In our ranking of the 20 Hottest Zip Codes in Northern Virginia, two Loudoun County areas made the cut among the most in-demand neighborhoods in the region. Here’s what to know about living in the 20165 and 20176 zip codes.
20165
Sterling area
This zip code — comprised of the Cascades, Countryside, Lowes Island, and Potomac Falls neighborhoods — offers options for a range of buyers.
Properties include detached single-family homes, townhouses, condos, and a 55-plus community. HOA and non-HOA options range from just under $300,000 to more than $2 million.
The area also offers a strong mix of amenities and recreation. “There’s so much at your fingertips,” says Kim Spear of The Spear Realty Group. “The foodie scene is getting more robust. There are local coffee shops for people to hang out. There’s shopping everywhere. And then, for people who like the outdoors, there are so many places to, what I call, walk, run, and roll.”
Both Spear and Holly Weatherwax of Momentum Realty emphasize having your finances in order when looking to buy in Sterling. Weatherwax advises buyers to “be well prepared with your financing, understand what all the contingencies mean, and be ready to move if something comes up because there is a lack of inventory in the zip code.”
“People don’t leave,” says Spear. “They start there in a condo or a smaller home, and they just grow into that area because they love living there so much.”
- Cascades Marketplace houses Local Provisions and CHĪKO, which are on our Best Restaurants list, and Loudoun County’s first Taco Bamba.
20176
Leesburg area
This area has the best of both worlds. It includes high-end neighborhoods along the Potomac like Lansdowne and River Creek, as well as rural areas as you drive north toward Lucketts.
“It’s almost like a bridge or a handshake between those two things,” says Dustin Fox of Samson Properties. He says buyers who are moving to the area are “tired of the chain restaurants or looking at a data center, and they love that Leesburg has an actual historic downtown area with mom-and-pop-owned restaurants.”
In downtown Leesburg, walkability is key for prospective buyers, says Kim Spear of The Spear Realty Group. “We’ve had more buyers come in saying, ‘We want to live in downtown Leesburg. We want to live where we can walk everywhere,’” which includes access to restaurants, shopping, and town activities.
As you head out of the center of Leesburg and up Route 15, compact housing developments transition into parks and farmland. This is where you’ll find Ida Lee Park Recreation Center, Morven Park, and Temple Hall Farm.
Buyers do need to consider their commutes when looking to buy here. “If you’re looking at 20176 north, you have all this Route 15 traffic,” Fox says. “You have to make sure you’re looking at it at the right time.” Route 15 and Route 7 are the area’s main highways, with both the Dulles Greenway and Metro’s Silver Line in close proximity.
- Leesburg’s walkable downtown includes a variety of eateries and independent shops.
- Top-ranked Riverside High School is near Lansdowne.
- Nearby shopping destinations include Leesburg Premium Outlets and Leesburg’s Historic District.
- Dining destinations just a short drive away include Tuscarora Mill, The Huntōn, and Shutters on King.
Methodology
This ranking uses data from December 1, 2024, to November 30, 2025, as reported by Bright MLS. To determine the Top 20, we considered zip codes that had a minimum of 120 sales over the given time frame. The list was weighted based on the percentage change between the median list price and median close price, as well as the median days on the market over the 12-month period.
*Population, education, median household income, and total number of households were not included as factors in the ranking.
By the Numbers
No. 12: 20165 Sterling
2025 Median List Price: $696,200
2025 Median Close Price: $699,000
2025 Median Days on Market: 7
2025 Sales: 397
Population*: 34,210
Education (Percentage of population 25 and older with Bachelor’s degree)*: 39.7%
Median Household Income*: $185,594
Total Households*: 11,903
No. 17: 20176 Leesburg
2025 Median List Price: $889,000
2025 Median Close Price: $893,500
2025 Median Days on Market: 9
2025 Sales: 864
Population*: 50,002
Education (Percentage of population 25 and older with Bachelor’s degree)*: 36%
Median Household Income*: $166,870
Total Households*: 16,347
Feature image of Leesburg courtesy Visit Loudoun
